Which company is the publicly traded parent of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway investments?

Berkshire Hathaway is the publicly traded parent of Warren Buffett’s major investments and operating businesses.

Berkshire Hathaway began as a textile manufacturer, but Warren Buffett and his investment partners gradually redirected it toward insurance and investments. Buffett became chairman and chief executive in the 1960s. The company later built a diversified collection of businesses and stock holdings.

Its subsidiaries and investments have included GEICO, BNSF Railway, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and large stakes in major public companies. Insurance is central to Berkshire’s financial model because premiums provide investable funds, often called float, before claims are paid.

Berkshire is not a mutual fund and Buffett does not personally own all of its assets. It is a public corporation with many shareholders. The company has two principal share classes: Class A shares, which are exceptionally expensive, and more accessible Class B shares, created in 1996.